Sofa bed folding fixture with seat cushion pad

ABSTRACT

A folding fixture for a sofa bed having a plurality of sections pivotally connected together end-to-end with each section having a pair of bars at the sides of the fixture, and a bedspring for supporting a mattress extending between and connected to the side bars. The fixture is foldable into a retracted position in the sofa with one of the sections constituting a foot section extending generally horizontally of the sofa and acting as a seat section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions. This foot section has a cross bar at its free end and the fixture has a support bar extending transversely of its side bars adjacent the pivotal connection between the foot section and the next adjacent section (i.e., the intermediate section). This support bar is of hollow cross section and has a slot therein extending lengthwise thereof facing away from the cross bar when the fixture is folded in its retracted position. A pad secured to the fixture overlies the bedspring in the foot section when it is folded in its retracted position, the pad having a welt along one longitudinal margin insertable endwise into the support bar with the pad extending from the welt through the slot, the welt being of sufficient cross section to prevent the welt from being pulled through the slot. The other longitudinal margin of the pad is secured to the fixture adjacent the cross bar.

Warner June 12, 1973 SOFA III II) FOLDING FIXTURE WITH SEAT CUSHION IAI) Worthy John Warner, Collinsville, Ill.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: The Foster Brothers Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 222,540

[52] U.S.-Cl. 5/13, 5/353.2 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 17/13 [58] Field of Search 5/13-18,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,380,082 4/1968 Mikos 5/l3 3,047,886 8/1962 Thierfelder 3,040,340 6/1962 Davis 12/1969 Hill 5/13 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Atmrney- Irving Powers and Peter S. Gilster [57] ABSTRACT A folding fixture for a sofa bed having a plurality of sections pivotally connected together end-to-end with each section having a pair of bars at the sides of the fixture, and a bedspring for supporting a mattress extending between and connected to the side bars. The fixture is foldable into a retracted position in the sofa with one of the sections constituting a foot section extending generally horizontally of the sofa and acting as seat section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions. This foot section has a cross bar at its free end and the fixture has a support bar extending transversely of its side bars adjacent the pivotal connection between the foot section and the next adjacent section (i.e., the intermediate section). This support bar is of hollow cross section and has a slot therein extending lengthwise thereof facing away from the cross bar when the fixture is folded in its retracted position. A pad secured to the fixture overlies the bedspring in the foot section when it is folded in its retracted position, the pad having a welt along one lon- I gitudinal margin insertable endwise into the support bar with the pad extending from the welt through the slot, the welt being of sufficient cross section to prevent the welt from being pulled through the slot. The other longitudinal margin of the pad is secured to the fixture adjacent the crossbar.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 2 I975 3, 737, 922

FIG.1

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sofa beds, and more particularly to a folding fixture for a sofa bed.

The invention is especially concerned with a folding fixture for a sofa bed of the type referred to in the art as a four-section rise-over fixture, although its principles may be applicable to other types-of fixtures. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, a foursection rise-over fixture comprises a head section, a body section, an intermediate section and a foot section (the outer section) pivoted together end-to-end. When unfolded, the fixture extends horizontally forward from adjacent the back of the sofa over the front rail of the sofa, the foot, intermediate and body sections being supported on legs which unfold as the fixture is swung out of the sofa and unfolded. The fixture is adapted for folding over of the foot section on top of the body section and retraction of the entire fixture into the sofa with the head section extending upward within the back of the sofa, the body section extending generally horizontally forward from the lower end of the head section, the intermediate section extending upward from. the forward end of the body section immediately behind the front rail of the base of the sofa, and the footsection extending horizontally rearward from the upper end of the intermediate section. The foot section then constitutesa support for the seat cushion or cushions of the sofa. In extending the fixture for use as a bed, after removal of the seat cushion or cushions of the sofa, the intermediate section is pulled upfrom behind the front rail and the fixture is swung out over the front rail, rising'over the front rail (hence the description of the fixture as a rise-over fixture) to extend the head section, and body section, after which the foot section and intermediate section are unfolded. It will be understood that the fixture comprises two suitably cross-connected opposite side assemblies with a bedspring structure extending therebetween for supporting a mattress, and that, in folding up the fixture, the mattress is correspondingly folded, and is retracted, in its folded condition, into the sofa along with the fixture.

Fixtures of the type above described are well known in the art and have been on the market for a number of years. Generally, they require some sort of a pad for the seat cushion or.cushions secured to the foot section to overlie the section of bedspring in the foot section when'the fixture is in its retracted position within the sofa. Such pads have conventionally been attached to a bar extending transversely of the fixture adjacent the pivot connection between its foot section and its intermediate section, and to a cross bar at the outer or free end of the foot section, by means of a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws, snap fastenersor the like). However, use of such individual fasteners requires punching of holes for the fasteners in the pad and separate appliable that this work in the shop of the sofa manufacturer be made as easy as possible.

Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,960,698, 3,239,852, 3,321,777 and 3,345,651 for showings of sofa beds with seat cushion pads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a sofa bed fixture in which a seat cushion pad may be readily secured thereto to overlie the bedspring of the fixture; the provision of such a fixture in which the pad is continuously secured to the fixture along one longitudinal margin' thereof to minimize puckering of the pad; the provision of such a fixture in which the pad has a neat appearance; the provision of such a fixture in which the pad may be readily secured thereto after fabrication of the fixture without removing or installing fasteners; and the provision of such a fixture which is of economical construction. Other objects and features of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In general, a folding fixture of this invention for a sofa bed has a plurality of sections pivotally connected together end-to-end with each section comprising a pair of bars at the sides of the fixture, and a bedspring for supporting a mattress extending between and connected to the side bars. The fixture is foldable so that the sections along with the mattress and bedspring may be folded into a sofa into a retracted position wherein one of the sections constituting a foot section extends generally horizontally of the sofa and acts as a seat section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions, this foot section having a cross bar at its free end; One of the other sections constituting an intermediate section is pivotally connected to the foot section. The fixture has a support bar extending transversely of the side bars margin thereof insertable endwise into the support bar with the pad extending from the welt through the slot,

the welt being of sufficient cross section to prevent the welt from being pulled through the slot. The other longitudinal margin of the pad is secured to the fixture adjacent the cross bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a sofa (shown in phantom) having a folding bed fixture folded therein in a retrac'ted position with a section of the fixture supporting a seat cushion;

FIG. 2 is a view of line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the seat cushion section in plan and showing a pad overlying the bedspring of theseat cushion section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the attachment of one longitudinal margin of the pad to the fixture; I

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modification of the fixture;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the attachment of the other longitudinal margin of the pad to the fixture; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view on line 66 of FIG. 2 showing a portion of the fixture.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1, indicates in its entirety a four-section rise-over folding fixture of this invention for a sofa shown in phantom and generally indicated at 3. This fixture is generally of the type more fully described in the pending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 151,758, filed June 10, 1971, assigned to the assignee of this application. The fixture has a head section 5, an inner or body section 7, an intermediate section 9 and an outer or foot section 11 pivotally connected together end-to-end. Each section comprises a pair of side bars at opposite sides thereof, these bars being angle section bars each arranged with one of its legs extending vertically and its other leg extending inwardly from what amounts to the lower edge of the vertical leg. The side bars of the intermediate and foot sections 9 and 11 are respectively indicated at 13 and 15 in FIGS. and 2. A bedspring 17 for supporting a-mattress (not shown) spans the side bars of the four sections. This bedspring, as is conventional, consists of a wire mesh attached at its sides to the horizonstated margin of the pad and a portion of the pad folded tal legs of the angle iron side bars by coil tension springs as indicated at 19. The head section 5 has a cross bar 23 at its rearward end and the foot section has a cross bar 25 at its forward end. The bedspring 17 is attached at its ends to these cross bars by coil tension springs, as indicated at 27. As shown in FIG. 5, springs 27 have hooks 29 formed on their inner ends for attachment to the bedspring.

Foot section 11 is pivotally connected to intermediate section 9 by a pivotal pin connection, as indicated at 31, and fixture 3 is adapted to'fold up from an unfolded, extended position (not shown) for use as a bed to the folded, retracted position in the sofa shown in FIG. 1. With the fixture in its retracted position, the foot section extends generally horizontally of the sofa and acts as a seat cushion section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions 33 on the section of bedspring 17 in the foot section 11. A support bar generallyindicated at 35 extends between and is riveted to the side bars 13 of the intermediate section 9 adjacent the pivot pin connections 31 between the foot section 1 l and the intermediate section 9. This support bar is of hollow tube-like cross-section and has a longitudinal slot 37 extending throughout its length. The support bar is secured to the intermediate section in such position that slot 37 faces forward away from the foot section when fixture l is in its folded retracted position in sofa 3. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the support bar is of generally rectangular cross-section. A modification of the support bar is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the support bar is shown to be of generally circular cross section. This circular support bar is designated 35a to distinguish it from the rectangular cross-section support bar. It will be understood that support bars of either rectangular or circular cross-section, or even other cross-sections, will function equally well for purposes as will appear.

around the cord and stitched along a line 45 to form a tubular hem with the cord therein.

As shown in FIG. 3, support bar 35 is a square crosssection tubular member having slot 37 formed in the outer of its four sides. The slot is formed by lips 47a and 47b which are directed inwardly into the support bar and constitute upper and lower slot surfaces. These lips are spaced apart from each other a distance sufficient to permit pad 39 to pass therebetween and engage welt 41 to prevent the welt from being pulled through the slot. Similarly slot 37 is formed in the circular support bar 35a in its outer side and it has upper and lower slot lips as indicated at 48a and 48b, respectively, similar to the lips of support bar 35. As shown in FIG. 6, slot 37 has enlarged outer ends as indicated at 49 to facilitate endwise insertion of welt 41 into the support bar.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, pad 39 extends out through slot 37 and partially wraps around the front and upper portions of support bar 35 (or 35a) and overlies bedspring 17 in foot section 11. The other longitudinal margin of the pad (i.e., its rear margin when the fixture is folded into the sofa) is attached to cross bar 25 by the tension springs 27 in a manner as will appear. An opening 53 is provided in pad 39 adjacent support bar 35 to facilitate grasping it to unfold the fixture from its retracted position. As shown in FIG. 5, a hem 55 is formed in pad 51 along its margin opposite the welt by folding the pad over on itself and stitching the margin along a line as indicated at 57. A length of reinforcing wire 59 is inserted in the fold and held within the hem. This reinforced margin of the pad is attached to the tension springs 27 of the cross bar 25 by hooking the hooks 29 of the springs 27 through the pad so that the hooks engage the reinforcing wire.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, bedspring 17 includes a multiplicity of connecting wire members 61 for attaching a portion of the bedspring intermediate its ends to support bar 35 (or 35a). These connecting members have hooks 63 formed on their free ends. The support bar has a multiplicity of openings or slots 65 in its side wall opposite slot 37. The hooked ends 63 of the wire connecting members 61 are inserted in these slots (which are long enough to receive the hooks sideways) and then turned for hooking engagement with the inside of the said side wall of the support bar for connecting the bedspring thereto.

Thus, pad 39 may be readily secured to the folding bed fixture l by inserting welt 41 into either enlarged flaring end 49 of slot 37 and moving the pad along the length of "the support bar to the position shown in FIG. 2. The margin of the pad opposite the welt is then attached to tension springs 27 by hooking the pad to the springs as heretofore described. Attachment of a seat cushion pad to the folding fixture in this manner is particularly advantageous because the pad is secured to the fixture without requiring a multiplicity of individual fasteners for securing the pad to the support bar or without having to fasten any member of the fixture to hold the pad thereon. The welt'ed margin of the pad being continuously secured to the support bar, puckering of the pad caused by downward deflection of the pad and bedspring 17 under the weight of a person or persons sitting on the sofa is'substantially eliminated.

' In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

.What is claimed is:

1. A folding fixture for a sofa bed having a plurality of sections pivotally connected together end-to-end with each section comprising a pair of bars at the sides of the fixture, and a bedspring for supporting a mattress extending between and connected to the side bars, said fixture being foldable so that said sections'along with the mattress and the bedspring may be folded into a sofa into a retracted position wherein one of the sections constituting a foot section extends generally horizontally of the sofa and acts as a seat section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions, said foot section having a crossbar at its free end, one of the other sections constituting an intermediate section being pivotally connected to said foot section, said fixture having a support bar extending transversely of said side bars thereof adjacent the pivotal connection between the foot section and the intermediate section, said support bar being of hollow cross-section and having a slot therein extending lengthwise thereof, said hollow bar being located at the upper front of the fixture and said slot facing away from said foot section cross bar when said fixture is folded in its retracted position in the sofa, said fixture being adapted to hold a pad overlying the spring in said foot section when it is folded in its retracted position in the sofa, said pad having a welt along one longitudinal margin thereof insertable endwise into said support bar with said pad extending from said welt through said slot, said welt being of sufficient cross-section to prevent the welt from being pulled through said slot, the other longitudinal margin of the pad being secured to the fixture adjacent said cross bar.

2. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the welt is formed by a cord extending along said margin and a portion of the pad folded around the cord and stitched to form a tubular hem with the cord therein.

3. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bedspring is secured to the fixture by tension springs having end hooks, including tension springs securing the foot end of the bedspring to said cross bar, said other longitudinal margin of the pad being folded around a length of reinforcing wire and stitched to form a tubular hem with the wire therein, said books on said foot end springs being hooked through said pad around said wire.

4. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support member is secured to and extends between the side bars of said intermediate section adjacent the pivotal connection between said foot section and said intermediate section, said slot having an enlarged outer end to facilitate insertion of said welt in said support bar.

5. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support bar is generally of hollow rectangular cross section with the slot in the outer of the four sides thereof, and

has inwardly directed lips at opposite sides of the slots.

6. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support bar is generally of hollow circular cross section with the slot in its outer side facing away from the side rails of the intermediate section, and has inwardly directed lips at opposite sides of the slots. 

1. A folding fixture for a sofa bed having a plurality of sections pivotally connected together end-to-end with each section comprising a pair of bars at the sides of the fixture, and a bedspring for supporting a mattress extending between and connected to the side bars, said fixture being foldable so that said sections along with the mattress and the bedspring may be folded into a sofa into a retracted position wherein one of the sections constituting a foot section extends generally horizontally of the sofa and acts as a seat section for supporting a seat cushion or cushions, said foot section having a cross bar at its free end, one of the other sections constituting an intermediate section being pivotally connected to said foot section, said fixture having a support bar extending transversely of said side bars thereof adjacent the pivotal connection between the foot section and the intermediate section, said support bar being of hollow cross-section and having a slot therein extending lengthwise thereof, said hollow bar being located at the upper front of the fixture and said slot facing away from said foot section cross bar when said fixture is folded in its retracted position in the sofa, said fixture being adapted to hold a pad overlying the spring in said foot section when it is folded in its retracted position in the sofa, said pad having a welt along one longitudinal margin thereof insertable endwise into said support bar with said pad extending from said welt through said slot, said welt being of sufficient cross-section to prevent the welt from being pulled through said slot, the other longitudinal margin of the pad being secured to the fixture adjacent said cross bar.
 2. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the welt is formed by a cord extending along said margin and a portion of the pad folded around the cord and stitched to form a tubular hem with the cord therein.
 3. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bedspring is secured to the fixture by tension springs having end hooks, including tension springs securing the foot end of the bedspring to said cross bar, said other longitudinal margin of the pad being folded around a length of reinforcing wire and stitched to form a tubular hem with the wire therein, said hooks on said foot end springs being hooked through said pad around said wire.
 4. A folding fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support member is secured to and extends between the side bars of said intermediate section adjacent the pivotal connection between said foot section and said intermediate section, said slot having an enlarged outer end to facilitate insertion of said welt in said support bar.
 5. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support bar is generally of hollow rectangular cross section with the slot in the outer of the four sides thereof, and has inwardly directed lips at opposite sides of the slots.
 6. A fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support bar is generally of hollow circular cross section with the slot in its outer side facing away from the side rails of the intermediate section, and has inwardly directed lips at opposite sides of the slots. 